WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers have one big message on the avian flu outbreak in cows: Calm down.
As the H5N1 strain hops from birds to more than 36 dairy farms in nine states, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have pressed the Biden administration for quick and clear information on the risks for dairy cows and, potentially, people. But even as new tests show pasteurized milk is safe and agriculture officials impose testing regimens for interstate cattle moves, Republicans have another burgeoning concern — that alarm means harm for the dairy industry.
“The issue I have is, because it’s been talked about emotionally, people may respond to that,” said Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. “I just point to the swine flu [outbreak in 2009] that had nothing to do with hogs [but] had a significant negative impact on the hog industry.”
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